As I’ve said many a time before, reading to babies right from the start is fundamental in building not only a love of books, but also in laying the foundation stones of future language development. It’s also the perfect time to snuggle up and bond or to enlist the reading skills of an older sibling. Luckily, there are many excellent, hard-wearing board books to pick from. Here are some new treasures I’ve been sent to enjoy recently:

‘Where’s Brian’s Bottom?’ by Rob Jones (Pavilion Books)

Brian’s body is so impossibly long that he often loses track of his bottom! Search the house with him and the other animal residents. Is it in the hallway with Pauline the Parrot? Or perhaps in the bathroom with Derek the Duck?

This book is such fun! It stretches out to an impressive 6 1/2 feet long and is sturdy enough to withstand a good chewing. Children will love exploring its colourful concertina pages and learning about some of the different rooms you might find in a house. Lots to explore!

‘Baby Look!’ and ‘Baby Love’ from (Mama Makes Books)

Both these wonderful books are packed with tactile textures, moving elements, photos and mirrors which are guaranteed to keep babies engaged and learning. The tactile elements are perfect for helping to develop fine motor skills and concentration. The bold, bright illustrations and photos are sure to delight young readers.

The ‘Let’s Go!’ series by Rosalyn Albert, illustrated by Natalia Moore (Catch a Star)

Two new titles have landed in this excellent vehicle-based series which features a diverse cast of characters and non-stereotypical gender roles. The bouncy text and vibrant illustrations are surefire hits as we fly up into the sky on an aeroplane and scoop up lots of mud with a digger.

‘Day and Night,’ by Harriet Evans, illustrated by Lirios Bou (Caterpillar Books)

It’s never too early to start learning about how the world around us works. Venture into the first to discover which animals come out in the day or at night. Journey from the rainforest, to the savannah, to the marshes and beyond! I love this book’s sliding pages which magically disappear and change at the pull of a tab. The pages are uncluttered with bold illustrations and clear labels on a wonderful variety of creatures.

‘Dinosaurs,’ by Lauren Crisp, illustrated by Thomas Elliott (Caterpillar Books)

Dinosaurs are perennial favourite so it’s lovely to see a brand new board book for toddlers to get stuck into! Travel in time from the Triassic to the Cretaceous era, exploring peep-holes and flaps to develop readers’ fine motor skills, as well has learning how to pronounce some of those tricky dino names. Beautifully produced and lots to talk about. Roarsome!

Well I hope you’ve found something to pick up and enjoy with your little ones. Happy exploring

Library Girl.

*Many thanks to all the publishers who’ve sent me these books to review*